Method for controlling robot, robot, and recording medium

Abstract

A robot detects, through a sensor, the location and movement direction of a user and an object near the user, sets a nearby ground area in front at the feet of the user according to the detected location and movement direction of the user, controls an illumination device in the robot to irradiate the nearby ground area with light while driving at least one pair of legs or wheels of the robot to cause the robot to accompany the user, specifies the type and the location of the detected object, and if the object is a dangerous object and is located ahead of the user, controls the illumination device to irradiate a danger area including at least a portion of the dangerous object with light in addition to irradiating the nearby ground area with light.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for controlling a robot that accompanies a user, the method comprising:
 detecting, through at least one sensor included in the robot, a location and a movement direction of the user who is moving, and an object around the user; 
 setting, based on the location and the movement direction of the user, a nearby ground area in front at the feet of the user; 
 controlling an illumination device included in the robot to irradiate the nearby ground area with light while driving at least one pair of legs or wheels of the robot to cause the robot to accompany the user; 
 specifying a type and a location of the detected object; and 
 controlling, in a case where the object is a dangerous object and is located in the movement direction of the user, the illumination device to irradiate a new nearby ground area with light to guide the user to change the movement direction, the new nearby ground area being located in front at the feet of the user and in a direction different from the movement direction. 
 
     
     
       2. A robot comprising:
 a main body; 
 the at least one pair of legs or wheels; 
 an actuator that drives the at least one pair of legs or wheels; 
 the at least one sensor; 
 the illumination device including at least one light source; 
 a processor; and 
 a memory storing a program causing the processor to execute the method according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program causing a processor installed in the robot to execute the method according to  claim 1 .